Soooooo....summer was C R A Z Y!!
You know I moved my store location to downtown St. Joseph, right? Well in March we packed it all up and moved to a smaller, better location. We opened the first week in April. I was not prepared.
Normally, the summer months are slower for me. It's actually when I start making products for the holidays! Going into a new place, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't expecting what I got! HolyMoly!
Everyone downtown was warning me that it was going to get busy. Ok...yeah...sure it was already busier than my other location but I could handle it. Now most of my products can be made in a day or so with the exception of soap. It can be made but then must dry for at least 4 weeks. So you have to plan ahead! And I thought I did when I made a bunch of soap the last week I was in my old location. So it was in the drying process when we moved.
I did NOT make enough soap.
Don't get me wrong, I was super grateful that we got that busy! I mean, it was insane the amount of walk in traffic that was downtown. So I spent most of my summer making soap! A LOT of soap! I think I finally got caught up by the end of August...LOL
Now I'm making soap for Christmas, I already have a good start on it because I was still making quite a bit when the tourists season slowed down. I'm still making it weekly just not the volume I was this summer. But don't worry, I have hundreds of bars right now and more is coming! Then I'll start restocking soap for next summer...in January. I will NOT be caught off guard again!
Actually, I'm panicking a little...hoping my holiday shoppers will come to my new store to shop! I haven't forgotten about you, I hope you haven't forgotten about me.
I've already started on Christmas bath fizzies, I don't have nearly enough as they are great stocking stuffers, so more is coming. I've got the seasonal scented loofah soaps already drying and more is coming. Getting plenty of back stock on all the rest. But I need my customers!! My regulars are the ones who keep my small business going all winter.
So, instead of worrying too much, I'm going to keep my head down and in production mode for all the super wonderful shoppers who come every year and do so much Holiday shopping with me! Thank you for everything.